The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-25

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clear in his conceptions and had great power
In the use OF language"
His pastorlte lasted for fourteen years and
this church, In common with many others, Is
indebted to his pen for all the reliable facts in
Its history from the beginning down TO tile
time Of his departure In 1903
From this date until 1851 we are dependent
for the correct history Of this church upon
facts taken from the manuscripts OF James II.
Bnslsin. Andrew Giles and William Speer,
whose concurrent testimony no one can doubt.
quote the Language Of DR.. Howe IN whose
moval OF DR.. Cummins the church was vacant
one year, and In 1904 the Rev. John Simpson
! served the people as stated supply,
"In 1906 the Rev. DR.. Waddel took charge OF
the church in which he continued until near
the close of 1914. During his pastorate the el.
ders were Ezekiel Calhoun, VIM. Caldwell and
"Cn the Goth of October, 1914, tho church
preferred call to the Rev. James Gamble
who served through this decade, and also had
the charge of IL large school OF considerable
"About 1910 Josiah Patterson was added to
the session OF elders, and In 1915 John Speer
was elected to I'LL the vacancy caused by the
death OF John Caldwell" ,,,
Thomas Cunningham and Andrew Giles
were afterwards added TO the bench OF elders,
but al what timO is not known.
"During the first fifteen or twenty years OF
large and crowded, amounting to about two
hundred members.
"After this time from deaths and removals
to the west, the membership was greatly d.
minished."
Rev. james Gamble remained pastor Of this
church until March 9th, 1927, and Sept. ls,
1898, the Rev. Richard b. Cater was installed
pastor and served them until 1880. He was an
earnest minister. His sermons were prepared
with great care and delivered with grace
rarely Surpassed" Mr.. Cater was closely con-
nccted with the families of that name now
living in AbbeSille county.
Jan. 8, 1881 this church was again under the
ed until 1885, when he because OF physical IN
firlnity ceased to preach regularly. he
brought to the discharge of his pastoral duties
that rare com mbinatlon Of moral, mental l. ana
social uuuliflcat ions which endearcd him to
the people and won the title OF the beloved
PASTOR"
ORGANIZATION OF PROVIDENCE CHURCH.
From the membership OF Rocky River
church prior 10 1885 n cblony was set OIL ana
formed Providence church and the TWO were
always united under one pastorilte as notner
and daus ..tt- In 1878 the pastor OF the two
churches. Re-. r. c. Ligon, resigned the charge
of Rocky River to accept n more ueslruoIo
call to Good Hope church In Anderson couh-
ty, retaining the puS!orate or ProHioencc.
This severed the sacred ties and associatlons
which had always existed between ROCKY
River and Providence churches. In thelr ell
feebled condition-with q scattered meinoer-
ship, and no pnstoI-the outlook OF the
church was gloomy indeed, and IL really
seemed that the last page In the history ol u
church which had stood tile shocks ana re-
verses OF n hundred yeas AID Wrltt ~,
and that the old organization must now cease
to exist. But He for whose Worshlp the con-
gregation was organized, was mol READY 10 see